BECOMING A JOYFUL PARENT

"Dear child, if you become wise, I’ll be one happy parent. My heart will dance and sing to the tuneful truth you’ll speak.” Pro 23:15-16

You may have seen the movie Happy Feet. Mumble the penguin is born into a tribe that can only find their soul mates by singing a “heartsong.” If the male's song matches the female’s, the two penguins are linked for life. But Mumble has a huge disability: he can’t sing! However he does have one redeeming talent; Mumble can tap dance. But no other member of his tribe has ever encountered a dancing penguin. So Mumble becomes an outcast. Instead of accepting defeat, Mumble chooses to rejoice. He finds a another group of penguins who do accept him. Later he even makes his way back to his own tribe and dances his way to the penguin wife of his dreams.

This is the choice parents get to make when a family situation seems to go awry. First of all, don’t let rejection get to you, but decide to be thankful. You can either stay down or you can rise up. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, rejoice your way to victory. Your attitude is the only thing people can't take away from you. How you think and what you say makes all the difference in any spiritual battle.

Choose your weapons: do you want to stay in defeat for the rest of your life or are you ready to praise your way out of it? One friend of ours was completely overcome by the choices her daughter was making, but she decided to change her approach. Instead of looking at the girl's actions, this Mother kept her eyes on the Lord. The daughter was so shocked, she asked her Mom, “Is someone coaching you?” The Mom laughed and knew she was on the right track.

Find someone else who has successfully overcome what you are battling. Stick close to them and find out how the Holy Spirit directed them. He might have a totally different strategy for you, but It is confirmation you are on the right path.